Augustus, Lynx even series with Game 2 victory

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Seimone Augustus scored 23 of her team-high
27 points in the second half to help the Minnesota Lynx even their best-of-
five series against the Indiana Fever with an 83-71 victory in Game 2 of the
WNBA Finals.

Maya Moore followed with 23 points and Lindsay Whalen added 14 points for the defending champions, who are trying to become the first back-to-back champions since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-02.

Tamika Catchings powered the Fever with 27 points and eight rebounds, while
Shavonte Zellous chipped in 16 points for Indiana, which took Game 1, 76-70,
on Sunday.

The series shifts to Indiana for Game 3 on Friday night.

The Fever trailed 9-6 just before the midpoint of the first, but a pair of
free throws from Catchings sparked a 12-2 run to close the quarter with the
visitors holding an 18-11 lead.

The Lynx stormed back in the second, as Moore's jumper capped an 8-0 surge
midway through the stanza to help the Lynx pull within two heading into the
locker room.

The teams exchanged buckets throughout the third, as Catchings' 3-pointer with
1:21 remaining gave the Fever a 55-54 edge, but Moore responded with a three-
point play before Augustus buried a triple with 3.3 ticks on the clock to send
the Lynx into the final frame with a 60-55 lead.

Erlana Larkins opened the fourth with a layup to bring the Fever within 60-57,
but Minnesota tallied the next 11 points -- including five from Whalen -- to
grab a 71-57 lead and pull away for good.